Wonthaggi dairy farmer Lisa Broad on drought in west Gippsland
Dairy leader Lisa Broad has farmed through all sorts of trying conditions over the decades. But 2025 is different. See why.
Good things come to those who wait and Australia’s dairy farmers, including Wonthaggi’s Lisa Broad, have long waited for a dual-pronged reprieve.
Like thousands of primary producers nationwide, Lisa has had one eye on the skies for much-needed rain, and another eye on farmgate prices.
In the space of less than a fortnight, a splash of economic and climatic relief has fallen their way — but while it’s a good start, Lisa says more in the rain gauge and the processor web page is needed for dairy.
Lisa farms with her husband Lynton and son Gavin in southwest Gippsland, after a stint a decade ago operating a Lockington dairy farm in northern Victoria.
While many industry leaders say opening prices hovering around $8.70-$9.20 per kilo milk solids have been disappointing, Lisa said there’s reason for both positivity and improvement.
“The upside for me is we’re opening on a better price next season than we’re closing this season,” the Wonthaggi region farmer said.
“It means I’ll be paid more on July 1 than I am on June 30. That is a positive and we have to grab every positive we can find.
“There’s definitely room for improvement in the farmgate prices offered, but farmers understand processors need to make a profit too. It’s about getting that balance right and they do have the capacity to step up, as many farmers have noted recently.”
A leader in the industry, Lisa is a long-term board member of Jersey Australia, having served a stint as its president.
Their Broadlin Jersey stud has earned the Broad family the title of ‘master breeders’ and Lisa also serves as a board member with GippsDairy.
While the family have always been geared for growth, drought has dominated the business of dairy not only in their part of South Gippsland but for many farmers across southeastern Australia. The Broad’s farm received 17mm over the weekend and said she hoped it signalled the long road back out of drought.
“The lack of rain last winter and spring in 2024 in South Gippsland was not enough to produce run off into dams — it’s been the biggest impact for us on our farm,” she said.
“We went into summer with water storages well short of capacity.
“Even with careful water use throughout late spring and summer from 2024 into 2025, we still would’ve ran out in April this year without careful management and transferring water on farm from dam to dam and bringing in water from outside sources, which we continue to do to this day.”
Lisa said while initial steps by government towards drought assistance were welcome, she said fuel and water cartage rebates “would be a huge start” in getting farmer back on their feet financially.
“The rain we are getting is amazing and helping the grass grow but has had no impact on our water shortages,” she said.
“This weather situation is different to anything we have experienced before, it’s the fact that a lot of areas across parts of eastern and southern Australia are being affected at the same time.
“Floods and drought both devastating weather events pulling feed supplies at the same time to feed animals from hay and grain suppliers that already have very low supplies on hand.”